Press Association
Saturday 11th February 2012
A slimline Mardy Fish continued his impressive form on Thursday to power into the third round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas served for the opening set at 5-4 before Fish stormed back to win 15 of the next 17 games to complete a 7-5 6-0 6-2 victory.
After knee surgery at the end of September last year, Fish hired a nutritionist to help him get back into shape, the 28-year-old American subsequently losing more than two stone. And his new diet has certainly paid off, with Fish winning back to back tournaments for the first time in Newport and Atlanta and finishing runner-up in Cincinnati where he lost to Roger Federer.
"I really got aggressive with my training once I knew I was able to put in long hours and not get injured or have nicks and bruises and things like that which come up when you're probably not in your best shape," Fish said.
"And it really got fun. It got fun to practice. It's fun to try to outlast guys and it's fun to see when you play a match like today and you're in the heat and you crawl back and win that first set.
"You kind of look over in the changeover and see the guy has got the ice towel around his neck and he's probably not feeling that well. That's why you put in the work."
Spain's Albert Montanes also advanced to the last 32, the 21st seed enjoying an easy 6-4 6-3 6-1 win against Australia's Carsten Ball.
